Obama to seek opening on shutdown

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION:A Wednesday meeting between the top House Republican and Democrat yielded no progress, with aides even disagreeing over who asked for it

AP, WASHINGTON

“The president thought it was important to talk directly with the members who forced this economic crisis on the country about how the shutdown and a failure to pay the country’s bills could devastate the economy,” Carney said.

The frustrating standoff in Washington is weighing on each side’s poll numbers, but Republicans have been hurt the worst. A Gallup poll put the approval rating for the Republican Party at a record-low 28 percent. Polls have consistently said the Republicans deserve the greater share of blame for the shutdown.